Toy corn picker



Dec. 20, 1949 K. E. WISSLEAD TOY CORN PICKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1948 INVEN TOR. KEN/YE 771 E. W/JJL 40,

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, am iwm Dec 20, 1949 K. E... WISSLEAD TOY CORN PICKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 50, 1948 IN VEN TOR. KENNETH E. W/JJLEAQ %zmwmmwm ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in toys, and more particularly to an attachment for a toy farm tractor to convert said tractor into a toy simulating a tractor-mounted corn picker.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved toy which closely simulates an agricultural implement, such as a corn picker, and which can be produced by adding a simple, sheet metal attachment to a toy or model farm tractor, such as are now readily available on the market, and which toy has moving parts, is simple, durable, and economical in construction, neat and attractive in appearance, appealing to small children, and safe for them to use.

Other objects and advantages will become ap parent from a consideration of the following description and appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toy corn picker assembly, illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the toy illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of a fragmentary portion of the assembly, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a transverse cross-section taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

With continued reference to the drawings, the tractor or toy model includes a portion, generally indicated at I 0, which includes a frame ii, an engine l2, a seat I3 and a front steering column M.

A pair of closely-spaced front wheels l5 are secured to the lower end of front steering column M and a rear axle It extends below the rear end of portion Hi and is rotatably secured thereto. A pair of rear wheels ll are secured one on each end of axle I6 and are disposed one at each side of the frame portion H. The portion I0 may also include a steering wheel l8 and the figure I9 of a driver secured on the seat l3 and connected to the steering wheel 18.

The attachment, generally indicated at N, is preferably formed of thin, malleable metal and includes a center shield 2|, two side shields 22 disposed one at each side of the center shield and connected at their rear ends to the latter, a pair of tongues 23 each of which extends rearwardly from the junction of the center shield with the corresponding side shield, a transverse back plate 24 secured to the rear ends of the tongues 23, and an elevator 25 secured at its forward end to the back plate 24 and extending rearwardly and upwardly from the back plate.

The center shield 25 comprises a pair of substantially parallel, fiat plate portions positioned one at each side of the tractor portion i0, extending longitudinally of the tractor and substantially vertically when the tractor is in operative position. These two plate portions 26 are joined at their forward ends by a curved portion 21 which has a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional shape and is inclined forwardly and downwardly and tapered in the same direction, This front portion 21 extends above the top edges of the plate portions 28 at its upper or rear end substantially to the level of the top of the engine portion 1 2 of the tractor. If desired, this center shield 2! may be reinforced by a fiat plate 28 extending transversely thereacross between the junctions of the flat plates 26 with the curved front portion 21 which reinforcing plate may extend longitudinally of the curved portion 21 for substantially the entire length thereof. At its front end the toy tractor is provided with a simulated towing lug 30 and a screw 3| attached to the center shield and threaded through this lug, serves to operatively position the center shield vertically of the tractor.

The two side shields 22 are identical in construction, except that one is right-hand and the other left-hand, and each comprises a top portion of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional shape and depending, substantially flat sidewall portions. These shields also incline downwardly and forwardly and are tapered in the same direction to provide rearwardly and upwardlytapered openings, one between each side shield and the adjacent side of the center shield 2|. Each side shield receives in its rearward end the forward portion of the corresponding rear tractor wheel I! and is provided at its outer side with a convexly-curved rear edge 32. The two side shields are joined at their rearward ends to the rear end of the center shield by mutual connecting portions 33 and these portions are extended rearwardly to provide the tongues 23. Plate 24 is provided with apertures at the rearward ends of the tongues and suitable tabs on the ends of the tongues are extended through these apertures and bent over to secure the transverse back plate to the tongues in a conventional manner. The bottom end of the back plate 24 is bent forwardly to underlie the rear end of the tractor portion I6 and is held in operative association with the tractor by a pair of coiled tension springs 34, each connected at one end to the forwardlybent lower-end portion of plate 24 and at its opposite end to the inner wall of the associated side shield by means of an aperture 35 through which the end of the spring is hooked.

The elevator 25 comprises a chute 36 of channel-shaped cross-section secured at one end to the transverse back plate 24 and provided with a pair of rollers 3'! journaled one in each end thereof. A conveyor belt 38 of suitable material, such as a piece of elastic webbing, surrounds the 3 rollers 31 and is movable in the chute 36 when the rollers are rotated.

The bottom roller is provided with a laterallyprojecting, shaft 39 and a friction-v pulley 40 is mounted on the outer end of this shaft for operative engagement with the corresponding tractor rear wheels I! so that when the tractor is moved along a supporting surface, such as a floor, in a manner to rotate the rear wheels, the pu l ley 40 will be driven and will drive shaft. 39. andconveyor belt 38.

The two side shields 22 are elongated andrelatively narrow while the center shield 2| is. somewhat shortened, but all of the shields are smoothlycurved and, theentire attachment is symmetrical and are highly pleasing in appearance.

The tractor and attachment may be sold as a unit, or, if desired, the attachment may be sold separately, as it will fit a large number of toy tractors simulating farm tractors of different manufacture.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The; present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy corn picker comprising a. toy tractor having portions simulating a frame, engine and. seat, a rear axle at the rear end of said frame portion, a pair of rear wheels mounted one on each end of said axle, a steering column depending from the frontend of said frame. portion, and a pair of front wheels secured, to the lower end of said steering column, a center shield ineluding a pair of flat plate portions disposed one at each side of said tractor frame portion and. a downwardly and forwardly-inclined front portion extending between said side portions, said front portion having a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional shape and being tapered from top to bottom, a pair of downwardly and forwardlyinclined and tapered side shields secured at their rear ends to said center shield and each receiving in its rear portion the front portion of a tractor rear wheel, a transverse back plate. overlying the rear end of said tractor, a pair of tongues extending rearwardly from said shields, one adjacent the inner side of each rear wheel and secured at their rear ends to said back plate, an elevator extending upwardly and rearwardly from said back plate, a drive shaft projecting laterally from said elevator, a drive pulley on said shaft in peripheral engagement with one of said rear wheels, and spring means operatively connected between said back plate and said side shields securing said sh-ieldsback plate; and elevator on the toy tractor.

2. A simulated corn-picker attachment for a toy farm tractor comprising a rounded, hollow center shield adapted to enclose the front portion of said tractor including the front wheels thereof, a pair of rounded, hollow side shields attached at their rear ends to said center shield and each. adapted to enclose the front portion of a. tractor rear Wheel, a plate secured to said shields and adapted to be positioned to the rear of the tractor, an elevator extending rearwardly from said plate, and elevatordriving means projecti'ng laterally from said elevator and operatively engageable with one of the tractor rear wheels.

3'. A simulated corn-picker attachment for a toy farm tractor comprising a thin metal struc-' ture including a center shield, two side shields disposed one at each side of said center shield and secured at their rear ends to the latter, a back plate secured to the rear ends of said shields, an elevator secured at one end to said back plate and extending therefrom in a direction away from said shields, and elevator-driving means projecting laterally from said elevator for operative engagement with a rear Wheel of said tractor.

4. A simulated corn-picker attachment for a toy farm tractor comprising a thin metal structure including a center shield, two side shields disposed one at each side of said center shield and secured at their rear ends to the latter, a back plate secured to the rear ends of said shields, an elevator secured at one end to said back plate and extending therefrom in a direction away 441 from said shields, and elevator-driving means projecting laterally from said elevator for operative engagement with a rear wheel of said tractor, said shields having a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional shape, and being inclined downwardly and tapered in a direction away from said back plate.

KENNETH E. WISSLEAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

